Sink construction



Dec.'l8, 1945. v. R. OBRIEN I 2,391,034

SINK CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 8/1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I H I F' &Z'IZCeIZZ'K. 02m),

Dec. 18, 1945. v. R. O'BRIEN SINK CONSTRUCTION Filed NOV. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vim.. l -l l:flfi$ Application November 8, 1943, Serial No. 509.515

2 Claims. (01. 4-187) This invention relates to improvement in sink construction where it is desired to provide a means of forming integral with the sink a garbag hopper. This hopper is formed in the sink proper separate and spaced from the sink drain opening. Thus, I provide a separate and distinct hopper means integrally formed with the sink and yet not connected with the regular drain so that the water drain from the sink proper does not pass through the garbage or the waste material discharged in the hopper.

Some of the advantages of my sink construction are ease of disposal of garbage and cleanliness; the garbage never being exposed in the sink; also the bucket in the hopper is larger than most metal baskets used in sinks.

A further feature resides in providing a hopper associated with the sink water faucet which permits the directing of water directly from the faucet on to the garbage put in the bucket in the opening. Thus, the water washes down virtually 50% of the garbage or that portion thereof which readily passes through the openings in the bucket. The openings in the bucket will be of a size to prevent any material which passes through the same from clogging the sink trap or sewage disposal means. Thus, the capacity of the bucket in the hopper is increased by that portion of the garbage which will pass or can be washed away.

It is also a feature to provide the garbage 'disposal. hopper separate from the regular drain in the sink as it provides a means of preventing the acids from vegetables and fruits from destroying the enamel in the bottom of the sink such as is the case where garbage is maintained in a basket in the sink until it is disposed of, and means of providing a separate hopper in the sink whereby none of the acids are allowed in the sink but the vegetable and fruit garbage is put directly into the garbage hopper. a A further feature resides in providing a sink construction as herein set forth which permits the scraping of dirty dishes directly into the hopper with running water available from the sink faucet, thereby providing a more sanitary sink construction.

Further, this integral hopper with the sink proper prevents any cracks where dirt can lodge and keeps the sink basin clean at all times.

It is also a, feature to provide my sink with the hopper connected with a garbage basket or container placed in the outside wall of the building with the drain leading therefrom into the regular sewage disposal systemand wherein the garbage "bucket may be removed from the outside'of the building by the garbage collector. This provides a means of disposal of the garbage without going out of doors.

My sink construction provides a means of receiving a mechanical garbage disposal, a vise operated by an electric motor to grind up all the larger particles of garbage so that the same may be passed directly'into the sewage system. Any of these means of disposal of garbage may be adapted to be connected to my sink, thus to provide a sanitary and practical means of disposing of garbage and the like, permitting the use of hot or cold water. directly to the hopper from the sink faucet or spray and keeping the sink clean and tidy at all times.

In this manner I provide three distinct types of garbage disposal, namely, the bucket type positioned in the hopper formed integral in the sink body, a mechanical garbage disposal device and the bucket in the outside wall of the building where the garbage collector can have easy access to the same to pick up the garbage and remove the same. It is apparent that this outside wall type of garbage disposal means with 5 the water drain leading into the sewage disposal system from the bottom of the bucket compartment permits a large proportion of the garbage to be washed away into the sewage system of the building, thus not requiring the emptying of the garbage bucket as often as if a large portion of the garbage were not washed into the sewage system.

These several means of disposing of garbage keeps the main sink enamel finish in better condition, permitting the enamel to wear longer and stay brighter and cleaner, and, in fact, retain that original gloss or luster longer.

These features, together with other details and objects, will be clearly defined.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking into the sink.

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view showing one form of garbage disposal to which my sink is adapted.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of a position of my sink showing the drain connected to the hopper as used in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the manner in which my sink may be used with a mechanical garbage disposal device which is electrically operated.

Figure 5 illustrates the side elevation of another manner in which my sink may be used.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the manner of use as illustrated in Figure 5 of my sink, only a portion of the sink proper being illustrated.

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a sink where my integral hopper construction is employed for garbage disposal.

Figure 8 is a small plan view of an alternative construction.

Figure 9 is a small plan view of an alternative construction. n K

The sink lfl' rnay 'lae of any er mary construe,- tion provided with a water drain H"ha'ving the usual screen I2 over the same and wherein the well of the sink is open and may be used in the usual manner.

The sink is provided with a swinging raucet outlet IS. The faucet may be of any suitable form and the drawings merely-illustratea-fo rm which may be desirable. However, it will be apparent that any faucet with a sWin'giiig-outlet such as l3 which will swing from one side to the other of the sinkis desirable. The sink is also provided with a cold'wat'er valve [land a hot Water valve l5. Further, the 'sink'irriay'be provided with aspjray 16 having a fiexiblebonnection and which is connected'to the hot and cold water outlets so that the spray may be used in place'of the outlet 13 when it is desired.

It is a feature to Provide the sink lflwith an integral hopper A and a hinge cover I! for' the 43,0 "set forth wilIprevent "food. acids and otneracids same. This hopper A"may' be in a form'which projects or bows out into the well of the sink [0 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, or the'hqpper A may be formed integral with the'body' of the sink l0, but outside of the well thereof as'il-lustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6.

The sink may be also for nedwith a cabinet construction as illustrated in 'Figure 7. However, the hopper A-is formed as an integral part thereof and is adapted to receive any acoumllla- .4 0

tion of garbage rather than having thegarba'ge in the well of the sink orconneutfid with "the drain II. I I

The hopper A is formed with a 'lbwerfiange' l8 'which'permits my 's'inkto be'usedin 'severaldifferent' ways to disposeof the'garba'ge' discharged into the hopper A. t I 7 One form of'di sposal of garbage' ,I' haveillus trat'edin- Figures? and 3 wherein a"drain pipe 20 is connected to the flange I8, with a gasket 2| between the flange I 8 and the flange or the drain pipe 20. The drain pipe 20 is adapted to discharge the garbage from the hopper A into" a bucket 22 which is positioned in the wall 23 of the building. The bucket 22 may be preferably formed like a basket or like the opening in the bottom thereof so that any water directed into the hopper A and passing through the pipe" 20 will pass through the bucket to carry the arbage into the bucket and to wash any particles of garbage into the sewer system through the drain passageway 24 and automatically connecting with the drain pipe 25 which :leads from the drain ll of the sink l0. Suitable traps 2B are provided for sanitation. An outside door 21 normally closes the bucketcompartment 28- in the wall of the building'23. 7

Still a furthermanner of using my sink with the garbage hopper illustrated in Figure 4 where I provide an electrically operated grinding means '70 my sink l0 may be used with its garbage hopper A such as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. In this use (if my sink In with a garbage hopper A, I employ a wire basket 30 positioned in the hopper A and with the lower end of the hopper connected by the drain pipe 3| to the regular drain 25 from the sink I0. In this use of the hopper A with the sink III, the wire basket receives the garbage in the basket 30 and water from the outlet I3 or the spray I6 may be directed-{over thengarba'ge in the' baskeflisn so as to reduce" the'garbage bulk toaminirmnn and to wash any part of the garbage into the drain 25.

With this means of garbage disposal, a simple basketdll collects the garbage bulk which will not wash down the drain and may be carried out '-'-when desirable.

from thegarbage from 'attacking'or' wearing the enamel surface of the sink. I believe thatin'my sink "construction, the sinkmasimmay be"'kept brighter and the 'ilnish thereon wilIwear' longer thanwith' the old forms] of "g e dispos l -heretofore employed. fEurthefrmore, where the garbage disposal'is a partiof theregular drain Of the S n Thai/e. .fqllnd. that"'garbage still is discharged into the main 'basin" of the sinkand thus shows a greater wear "on' the enameledsurface of theisame than where aLseparate hopper for thegarbageis provided as I'have illustrated herein,

featureresiliesfinprovidihg a separate hopper for'gairha ewaste matter "separate from the drain of the sinkandwhjer'ein the garbage may be reduced 'tO' a'minimum 'ofbulk by washing as soon as'possibledpwn thedr'ain and without, requiringa meqhanical unit such as B-where an economical, form So! garbage "disposal and"sink construbtlbnis' desired. Yet, if circumstances permit and it'is' d sire rme ha car a ba e H sdisposal 'of"the""g'arbage inFigure2 where the "gja,rbage bucket is positioned in the wall of the building-Rand is accessible to the outside so' the garbage uectorcan'prck up the same without disturbing "the occupants ofj'the building and Where the arbage may be".disbharged into'a bucket i'concefalediinf the; wall of the building. This .r i-m 'foti-g'arbag uisplcsal means maybe moregdesirable forwarrner climates. However. the same canbe insulated. oreven heatedfif it is desirable so' that tliismeans of garbage disposal may be usedin anyclimate.

In- Figure-8, I. have;i llustrated lthe hopper- A dividedinto a-partition- 35 so that-on one side of the hopper garbage may be received and on-the oth rid cans and other refuse-may beplaced- Cover t olosesgthe hopper A qin -the samemanper-as; des r b d md-iHwtrated-in-the otber fis- 4 1 5 i I have illustratedstillanother-manner irr which In Figure 9, I- -have 111'uSt1'ltRd-th&hOpper..A

positioned on the right hand side of the sink 10. Thus it will be apparent that these variations of construction may be employed.

While the drawings illustrate a particular form of construction of hopper formed as a part of the sink body l0, it is apparent that other designs and forms may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A sink comprising a horizontal shelf and a basin extending downwardly from said shelf, said shelf including a rear portion having a swinging faucet extending upwardly therefrom and thence outwardly, said rear portion of said shelf also having a garbage hopper depending therefrom, said hopper being located adjacent said faucet so that the faucet may be swung into a position to discharge into the hopper, whereby garbage in said hopper may be washed and said hopper may be cleaned, said hopper having a peripheral flange extending around its lowermost edge whereby the hopper may be connected to a garbage disposal unit or a drain.

2. A sink comprising a horizontal shelf and a :basin extending downwardly from said shelf, said shelf including a rear portion having an opening therein adapted to receive a swinging faucet, that extends upwardly therefrom and thence outwardly, said rear portion of said shelf also having a garbage hopper depending therefrom, said hopper being located adjacent said faucet opening so that when a faucet is mounted in said opening, it may be swung into a position to discharge into the hopper, whereby garbage in said hopper may be washed and said hopper may be cleaned, said hopper having a peripheral flange extending around its lowermost edge whereby the hopper may be connected to a garbage disposal unit or a drain, said shelf, basin and hopper being integrally formed, whereby joints are eliminated between the hopper and the shelf.

' VINCENT R. OBRIEN. 

